RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. — According to a new survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Panera Bread, three-quarters of respondents will cut their morning sleep short for a good breakfast. An equal percentage of consumers say freshness and quality ingredients are essential components of a morning meal.
To help consumers access healthier breakfast offerings, Panera Bread will begin to offer grilled breakfast sandwiches nationwide in April 2008. The new line of breakfast sandwiches are made fresh daily with a combination of all-natural egg, Vermont white cheddar cheese, Applewood-smoked bacon or all-natural sausage, grilled between two slices of freshly baked Ciabatta.
Other survey results include:
- Forty-six percent of of Americans classify themselves as "early birds" rather than night owls (24 percent).
- More than three-quarters of Americans are awake by 7 a.m. with 80 percent of Americans ready and out the door in an hour or less.
- Sixty-one percent of Americans eat breakfast daily.
- When Americans know their day will be tough, they look to a hot breakfast to help them face the morning — omelets (25 percent), breakfast sandwiches (23 percent) and pancakes (23 percent) are their fuel of choice.
- Thirty-seven percent of Americans would choose to have breakfast by themselves rather than with a local sports star (19 percent), a TV morning anchor (14 percent) or their mayor (6 percent).
- Seventy-five percent of Americans eat out or purchase breakfast on occasion, while 32 percent does so at least once a week.
- Forty-three percent of Americans say they generally aren't pleased with the taste and quality of available breakfast sandwiches.
- Eighty-two percent of respondents prefer a fresh-cooked egg in their breakfast sandwich.
- Ninety percent prefer that their breakfast sandwich be made fresh over frozen.
The data is based on a survey conducted by phone Feb. 19-27, 2008. The sample included 500 nationally representative Americans and more than 200 individuals living in 11 different market areas. The margin of error for the national audience is +/-4 percent and for the local markets is +/-7 percent.
